Ford and Ghia created a name-brand concept six years before the first-gen Focus was released.
Specifications: Based on Escort-RS Cosworth, four wheel-drive, 2.0-liter motor with 227 HP, fiberglass body and 18-inch wheels A Focus that emits a TVR vibe is something to love. It’s a concept, yes, but it doesn’t make it less fascinating. The Ghia Focus’s curvaceous body, made entirely of fiberglass, weighs in at 2,094 lbs (948 kg). Taru Lahti was responsible for the design. Giorgetto Giugaro praised his work and said that the Ghia Focus is “not a car, it’s a piece art”. J Mays, a former Ford designer, stated that the Ghia Focus is “a concept that is as close as you will ever find to an art piece, an astonishing one-off that has less in common with auto design than sculpture.” Under the alien-like body, there is actually an Escort RS cosworth. It has a shorter engine and is turbocharged with a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine. This produces 227 horsepower (167kilowatts), and 221 pound feet (300 newton metres) of torque to those 18-inch wheels. Two-seater roadster with removable hard top was designed. It was stowed under the hatch on the rear deck. However, the concept can also be used with a foldable fabric roof. The wooden floor was used in the interior, while the door panels and sporty seats were covered with natural saddle cowhide. It has a brown and yellow finish.
The cabin features some unique design cues, including the exposed steering column and the steel rod spokes that support the steering wheel. The wood finish is also found on the shift lever, while the center console was hand-carved out of clear and brushed steel. Although it is possible to imagine that the idea was too extravagant to be made into a production model, it is still fascinating to see such an innovative Ford Focus. It was sold by Blue Oval in June 2002 for $1 million.